Mumbai, Oct 14 (IANS) Buoyed by better corporate earnings and strong global markets, a key index of Indian equities Wednesday soared 204 points to end at a 52-week high.
The 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, Sensex, which opened at 17,117.9 points, shut shop at 17,231.11 points, up 204.44 points or 1.2 percent from the previous close of 17,026.67 Tuesday.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE) too ended in the green at 5,118.20 points, up 1.27 percent.

Broader market indices also closed in the positive terrain, with the BSE midcap index moving up 1.96 percent and the BSE smallcap index closing 1.54 percent higher.

Metals, capital goods, auto and state-run firms’ scrips were the main drivers of Wednesday’s rally, while telecom companies came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was positive with 1,685 stocks advancing, 1,075 declining and 80 remaining unchanged.

Among the top gainers were M&M, up 6.12 percent at Rs.971.40; Sterlite, up 5.38 percent at Rs.852.40; Hindalco, up 5.04 percent at Rs.135.35; and Jaiprakash Associates, up 5.01 percent at Rs.252.35.

There were only five losers: Reliance Communications, down 6.54 percent at Rs.231.60; Bharti Airtel, down 3.25 percent at Rs.339.40; Reliance Infra, down 2.59 percent at Rs.1,321.80; ACC, down 0.73 percent at Rs.790.50; and Grasim, down 0.53 percent at Rs.2,405.05.

Most other Asian markets ended strong.

The primary index of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hang Seng, closed 419.12 points or 1.95 percent higher at 21,886.48 points.

The Kospi, benchmark index of the Korean Stock Exchange, shut in the green as well at 1,649.09 points, up 20.16 points or 1.24 percent.

At the Shanghai Stock Exchange, the composite index was ruling 1.17 percent up at 2,970.53 points.

However, the Nikkei, a key index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, closed 16.35 points or 0.16 percent lower at 10,060.21 points.

European markets were ruling firm.

In Britain, the FTSE 100 index was ruling 1.94 percent higher at 5,254.16 points, while its French peer, the CAC 40, was up 2 percent at 3,877.55 points.

Germany’s DAX was ruling at 5,845.21 points, up 2.29 percent.